I remember when I began a walk of faith. I read the Bible, albeit a paraphrased version and though I wasn’t sure if one was supposed to write in their Bibles, I underlined every verse which seemed to apply to me, especially in Psalms. Believing what God had to say seemed uncomplicated and it was not long before I took God seriously. I believed that my relationship with him was simply meant to be. Then, I went to church.

      The Church

Though I’d grown up in the Catholic Church, the churches I attended over the course of the next twenty years or so were not cut from the same cloth as what I was used to. Some displayed icons while others did not. Some gathered in large warehouses, while others in traditional brick and mortar buildings. 

There was always music though, lots of music. Some churches used traditional hymnals while others projected the words to contemporary Christian songs up on a screen. Sometimes the music was acoustical, other times amplified. The singers were always astounding. Their professional voices, absolutely beautiful.

Then of course there were the pastors. Some dressed in suits and neckties, others very casually in jeans and a t-shirt. Some spoke from pulpits with pages of notes while others just stood on stage, occasionally referring to a small Bible in their hands. Though they each had their different style, I believe they were all sincere and genuine. 

It must have been in the 90s when churches first came up with mission statements; a few words that described their main aim. Some examples include; Making Disciples; Save, Equip, and Send; Know Jesus and Make Jesus Known; and Creating Biblical Disciples in Relational Environments. These statements are what drove the emphasis of their church.

You can count on that within any church, there is always a certain culture and a particular vernacular. The first church my husband and I attended emphasized salvation and the message from the pulpit each week was, “Are you saved?” Followed by, “Have you said the sinner’s prayer?” 

I hadn’t heard either of these terms until then and wondered if my simple decision to choose life instead of death was enough. 

After ten years or so, we moved on to our second church. Here the emphasis seemed to be, “Is Jesus Lord of your life?” Though I wasn’t exactly sure what was meant by this, it did cause me to doubt whether or not my simple decision to do the best I could was enough. 

Finally, the last church we attended focused on making disciples through weekly small group Bible studies. To lead a small group one had to be trained and follow protocol. I wondered if my simple desire to have healthy, honest and genuine relationships with others was enough. 

But no matter the type of building, the music or mission statement of any church, they are the main gathering place for believers. But, I’ve learned something from attending the different churches I’ve attended; it is important to be aware of what we believe and why we believe it. 

Any community will influence us. Any community will conform us, whether into something better, or not, is the question. 

What do I believe and why do I believe that? Is my belief strong enough to withstand someone’s criticism? Will I waver or cave when confronted with opposition? Will I conform just so I can belong?

Why bother considering what you believe? I believe the simple truth that we’ve all been created to be in relationship with God, and without that relationship, we might find ourselves conforming to somebody else’s way of thinking.